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CANDY!

Posted on February 8, 2010

Our theme for the kid’s Valentine’s this year is CANDY thanks to Kelly at Our Lincoln Log! Thanks Kelly! Send me your address and I’ll ship out your gift (email me the first letter of your last name too!)! And because I made the same gift for some friends I will show you guys the finished product AFTER I deliver the others!

Ok, without further ado… thanks to Kelly’s inspiration…

HA! I just HAD to use that last photo of Grayson (taken the other night at dinner)!

These are simple with really NO design and just one element from Vol. 25… once I finally decided i was on a TIME CRUNCH so I just wrote the sayings and moved on! But I do think they’re hilarious and I hope the moms of their classmates think they’re funny too!

from ME to YOU. the BEST of the web today!

Posted on February 8, 2010

Hoppin’ around and linkin’ it up! ENJOY!

1. Totally inspired by THIS!

2. Tara Whitney is on formspring now and she answered a question I want to copy here, b/c it is SO RIGHT ON.

Why does it make you feel defeated when you see a photographer selling their digital files for 150 bucks?

First I want to be clear that I am talking about professionals who are in business. Not people who shoot for fun for their friends, not someone starting out and gaining experience, but someone running a full fledged – full on business.

My answer:

Because the VALUE of the digital files is astronomically higher than that.

BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH SO MUCH MORE!

Because I personally feel that if you are charging that little, you aren’t confident in your ability to bring clients in.

Because you will spend 10 hours on these clients and make $150 bucks. After taxes, expenses etc, that is less than $10 an hour. Basically minimum wage. You WILL get to the point where you can’t cover your own costs. (jodie adds: this is SO true! client’s don’t realize all the expenses we have so what we charge isn’t what we actually make! and dangit, we are WORTH more than minimum wage!)

Because people will hire you because you are the cheapest, not because you are the photographer they have taken the time to CHOOSE out of many, or because you are any good. You might be good!!! But that will be their second priority. (jodie adds: this was me just last year with Jodified. I was CHEAP. So I was booked a lot. But I never knew if they loved my WORK or my PRICE more. Now we have clients that love our WORK and it makes it all so much better!)

Because you are basically working in a sweatshop of your own making if you charge that much. You will be so busy, (remember – because you are so cheap, not because you are wanted for your talents), and working so much, for NO MONEY, that you will burn out.

Because I price my files at a fair, market rate. ($1200 files + $525 session fee) And when a competitor or colleague charges so little, they are undercutting me (and anyone else that charges market value). I don’t think that is an honorable business practice.

Have you seen the commercial where the Barber Shoppe starts to get bumped out by the $6 haircut salon across the street?
And the Shoppe owner puts up a sign that says, “We fix $6 haircuts!”
And then the $6 dollar salon goes out of business?

That commercial is really something to think about! (jodie adds: I can’t tell you how many clients we have that went somewhere cheaper before and were totally unhappy with their photos or their experience!)

After I have said all of this, I also want to say that I don’t think about this very often. I don’t stew or want harm to come to the photographers who are cheap. I do my own thing and keep my head down and stay out of most things. It is what it is. It happens in every industry right?

But, you asked.

3. THIS is on our Fresh Art wish list! Soon people. Soon.

4. I really LOVE THIS! Love. Great work Katherine!

5. Really curious if THIS really works? Anyone ever had one work? I want one if they do!

6. Thinking about Easter already and so don’t be surprised when you see Grayman sporting one of THESE and the girls in something like THIS!

And some blogs I have starred right now in Google Reader….

1. Love her and all of her posts but love THIS idea from this morning!

2. My dad’s company is blogging every day now (do me a personal favor and subscribe to them!) and Phil, the guy behind the blog, is doing a great job! I LOVED today’s informative post! Great for anyone dealing with SNOW today! (anyone else praying for a snow day tomorrow?)

3. My friend Lyndsay is brilliant, I knew that. But THIS idea tops it all! Clients, if you have a toddler DO NOT BE SURPRISED when we show up with this idea in hand this spring!

4. I know Carrie like, RULES THE WORLD when it comes to newborn photography, Kim and I are both big fans of her work (and Brit’s) but THIS killed me. Such a great idea! And one I’d love to try here in the wintery cold midwest! Great inspiration! Thanks Carrie!

5. One of my favorite idea blogs is at it again with THIS awesome idea for a fun Valentine’s gift for the kiddos! LOVE!

6. I do not cook. Or bake. Much. But I’m working at getting better. And last year we made adorable marshmallow pops for the girls to give out at preschool so this year I had to do something equally as great right? Enter though, ME WHO DOES NOT BAKE, and I tend to freak out a bit. But then I saw THIS idea and knew I had to try it! I’ll let you know how it goes!

7. Bailey is pretty awesome at writing all of her letters but Parker hasn’t even started yet. Totally MY fault and NOT hers. As she is interested, I just never make the time. But I love THIS idea and will be on the lookout for a little chalkboard soon!

Ok!

I have literally HUNDREDS of blog posts saved on Reader so I will make more of an effort to do a link-fest more often! YAY OR NAY for that? Love the links? Hate them? Stop wasting your time? Let me know!

double digits – [St. Louis Photographers]

Posted on February 7, 2010

Today we are celebrating a birthday.  A double digit birthday.  My Samuel is TEN.

On the heels of the “I’m out of babies” post, here is another!  Samuel is our fourth child, the third boy right in a row, just 13 months younger than Jonathan, who is 13 months younger than Billy.   He came into the world after being served eviction papers in the form of induction… and surprising us at a bouncing 10 pounds 6 ounces (we had an ultrasound a few days prior that showed him only at 9 pounds).  Samuel was a very, um, demanding baby.  He earned the title “tick” because he was always attached to me, and just did not require a whole lot of sleep.  He’s also never really realized he is the younger of the boys, and so did everything at an accelerated schedule…. he was walking at 8 months, rode his bike without training wheels at 3, and was an ice skating fool at the same time.  It’s really hard to remember that this boy was ever demanding or difficult, because he has grown into the most mellow and sweet young man (and he is a GREAT sleeper now! ha!).  He is gentle and kind and soft spoken.  He adores sports and is a sports encyclopedia despite Bill & I really not being huge pro-sports fans… Sam knows players, stats, history, etc. (and yes, he is glued to the Super Bowl and so excited it fell on his birthday!) He was born with very red and very curly hair, that has now turned into a strawberry blond with only a hint of wave.  (and he has always sworn he doesn’t have red hair)  I adore his sprinkle of freckles and those hazel with a hint of amber eyes.

I truly feel so lucky to be able to parent this boy.  He is so responsible that he makes the job easy!

Dear God. I need help.

Posted on February 7, 2010

Calling ALL writers!

Some friends and I are talking about doing a skit for our church’s Mardi Gras next weekend and I’d love to toss this out to the INTERNET and see who throws it back!

It’s going to be a few of us moms, moms to young kiddos, and we’re all going to pop in and out of a big wall (you know, LAUGH IN style?) and say things like, “Dear God, is it only 9am?”

Or.

“Dear God, 13 diapers is enough for one day isn’t it?”

OR.

“Dear God, people can’t really tell I haven’t showered in a few days can they?”

BUT we aren’t sure we have AWESOME ideas yet. And we want to BRING DOWN THE HOUSE with our hillariousness!

So if you want to PLEASE PLEASE help us… will you leave a comment with some ideas?

We’re actually doing two skits, one with letters to God from children and one with letters to God from moms. But it’s the MOM one we need help with! And it doesn’t have to be all about being a mom to little ones… we’re missing some funny stuff since we don’t have teenagers yet!

No prize for this, just my unending gratitude! THANKS!

I’m out of babies.

Posted on February 6, 2010

The girl’s preschool had their Valentine Tea today and I was sitting on the floor, next to my best friend Angie and we had our four girls surrounding us. Except Parker kept moving from my lap to her lap and back to mine. (I love that I have a friend who I’m raising girls alongside. Who will be a second mom to my girls and me to hers.) And at one point I whispered to Ang that when I look at Parker I love that I still see a baby sometimes. Because of course most of the time she’s a rambunctious three year old that at times talks like she’s 15. And cuts her own hair. And has been potty trained since before she was two. And who’s BFF is her sister. Oh she is my sweet girl.

But for as big as she’s getting I do love that I catch glimpses of her babyhood still. And it’s just so fitting that the same moment I articulated something to my friend that I’ve been thinking about for a while, she crawled up in my lap, in the middle of a loud magic show, and fell sound asleep. And since I couldn’t see her, all snuggled in my lap, I handed my very heavy camera over to Bailey and asked her to take a photo of her sister. I was just praying it was in focus. And I never dreamed of the sweetness she was about to capture!

Do you see that baby? That sweet baby girl? The one that used to never want me to put her down? The one that lived in the sling and was with me ALL THE TIME? The one that walked early and talked late? The one that allowed Bailey to become a sister? Do you see her?

Because I sure do. I don’t see my crazy three year old that never sits still in that photo. And I certainly don’t see the little girl that cut her hair AGAIN this morning and now has a nice tuft of inch long hair in the middle-top of her head. I don’t see the girl that doesn’t listen or says “teasing words” to her sister or jumps on the couch or is the pickiest eater alive.

I just see my baby. My sweet baby. The one that taught me I could survive extreme exhaustion. The one that showed me how much my heart could love. The one that stole my heart the second I saw her big dimple just moments after her birth.

And when I think about how fast the girls are growing up I always think, “well it’s ok, b/c I still have my little Grayman.”

But then I was going through images from our day at The City Museum this week, when I took just him and Parker while Bailey was in school, and I found this:

I was sitting on the floor in this giant room we had all to ourselves watching him and Parker run and run and run. When I noticed he left DogDog laying on the ground and was suddenly running without him. And as I watched my little man run away I realized this was the beginning. The start of him growing up. Leaving. He takes that dog everywhere. Everywhere. So this was just such a symbolic moment for me. Watching him leave his biggest love behind.

And then today I realized he’d out grown his first pair of walking shoes.

(And yes, I skipped the Stride Rights this time and went straight for the cute b/c he’s the third kid and the arch will be fine in his foot as long as he’s cute right?)

It shouldn’t be a big deal that his foot has grown, I mean, he’s been walking for months now. I should be HAPPY he’s growing. Which I am! Especially b/c he’s becoming a SKINNY little thing! But again, this was just one more sign my babies are growing up.

So I’m going to celebrate these moments with them. Cheer them on as they grow and change. Make sure I’m never more sad than I am happy at their development into little people.

But I’m also going to hang on tight to the moments I still see my babies. Hold them a bit longer knowing the days they fit in my lap are limited. Hug them tighter knowing they won’t always give me hugs so willingly. Take their hand when they offer it because one day soon they won’t want to hold mine. I’m going to silently cling to these moments because I’m out of babies. Our family is complete. And as excited as I am to be OUT of the time of my life with three under three, I know I’m going to miss it. So these tiny moments? When my three year old falls sound asleep on my lap?  I will ignore the fact that my legs burn and tingle from sitting for too long and instead sit a little longer and ask someone to take a photo. So I can always remember. My baby.

SENIORS! {St. Louis High School Senior Photographers}

Posted on February 5, 2010

Two BIG announcements for high school seniors!

1. We are offering a SALE for all of you 2010 grads that haven’t had your photos taken yet! If you book your session for the months of February or March you will receive 50% off your session fee! HALF OFF!

So your session that is normally $275 is now just $137.50! AND you still get 50 senior rep cards to pass out to all of your friends!

Yes, it IS cold outside but we have fun ways to keep you warm and make the session speed along so no worries! Email us today to get on the calendar… spaces will be limited!

2. We have decided to launch our 2011 Fresh Art Senior Reps program this year! What is a Fresh Art Senior Rep? Well… it is a junior right now who wants great senior photos and is willing to take them a bit early to earn lots of free stuff and talk about Fresh Art to all of your friends! You will basically be a spokes model for us! You need to be outgoing and stylish and fun and be willing to tell all your friends about Fresh Art to get them to book us for their senior photos too!

Wondering what’s in it for you?

First, you get your session for FREE! A savings of $275! Your parents will LOVE that! Then you will get 100 senior rep cards for free as well as a spiral bound proof book containing ALL of your images! You will also be able to earn MORE FREE STUFF like print credits and gift certificates to places like Bread Co and iTunes when your friends book with us! You’ll also get 10 of your images in websized files to share on Facebook!

We will be accepting a Senior Rep or two from each high school in St. Louis so space is limited! If you are interested in learning more please fill out our application HERE!

And to tempt you, here are some of our 2009/2010 seniors!

The Birth Experience.

Posted on February 4, 2010

Have I ever introduced you to my good friend Lyndsay?

She’s one of my online BFFs. She knows more about me than some people I know in real life. MAN I love the internet!

Anyway, Lyndsay is awesome.

If you don’t read The Fresh Reflection (shame on you if you don’t!), she was on there a few days ago HERE! You can still head over and give her some love (or any of the other amazing women we have on there!). Oh, and when you head over, read the sweet comment her husband left her! He was our first hubby to leave a comment!

ANYWAY. Lyndsay is an amazing photographer down in Austin. You know, Texas? Where it’s warm right now? Oh man how I am hating winter. And MAN I can not stay on task tonight! So her business is Life in Motion Photography. Check her out. And follow her blog. She’s awesome (did I mention that?) and you’ll instantly fall in love with her kids that she blogs a lot about! They are adorable!

So one of the things that sets Lynds apart from lots of other photographers is the fact that she specializes in BIRTH photography. And take it from someone who’s done a few births, THEY ARE NOT EASY. But Lyndsay makes them look easy! She also seriously rocks them. This is one of my all-time favorite images from one of her births:

Where I lack in my birth experience I do make up in my hospital light experience with all of my NILMDTS sessions and let me tell you, that image was NOT easy to capture. And isn’t it beautiful?

I’m telling you all of this b/c she just launched this amazing thing called The Birth Experience.

Are you ready for how awesome it is?

First, she created this massive guide. In the guide it tells you exactly how to get into birth photography, grow your birth photography business or take your well established business to the next level. The tips, ideas, guidance in there are amazing. I’ve already learned so much and there are lots of things Kim and I will be trying out soon!

Second, you will have a membership for a year in her forum where you can ask her, or any of the other members, any kind of question you might have! Not to mention, forming relationships with other photographers doing what you do is so incredible for your sanity and your business! I’ve already gotten to know EMILY and LYNSEY, the other charter members (did I mention I’m a charter member? Yeah, totally honored!), and can’t wait to get to know them even better!

And third, you will be put on the directory which lists every member so expecting moms, from any city, can go there to find the birth photographer in her area! Such a great networking tool as well as a way to get your name out there!

Anyway, go check it out and if you’re interested in shooting more births this is well worth the money!

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